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Trade talk for Moss heats up
Packers might make deal for receiver before draft
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 27, 2007
The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams talking seriously to the Oakland Raiders about acquiring wide receiver Randy Moss, and there is a chance a trade could be completed before the draft starts today or sometime later in the day.
My how times have changed. Randy Moss was all smiles when the Oakland Raiders dealt for him.
According to an NFL source with direct knowledge of the Moss trade maneuvers, the Packers have been engaged in talks with the Raiders and are in the running for the former Pro Bowl receiver's services. While a deal could be in place soon, the source also warned that just as easily the whole thing could fall apart and the Packers would go on with the draft without making a deal for the five-time Pro Bowl receiver.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the New England Patriots are also interested in Moss.
The Packers and Raiders have been talking off and on about a Moss deal for the past two months but haven't ever really gotten close to reaching common ground.
A personnel executive for another NFL team said that the Raiders have been shopping Moss this week in an attempt to get something for him. The executive said he was told the Raiders were tired of Moss' act after two less-than-stellar years by the once-dominating receiver and wanted to dump him. They were finding very few takers, however.
The Packers aren't willing to give up a first-day pick for Moss, but appear willing to go as high as a fourth-round selection. The Raiders have reportedly been asking for more, but with a lack of interest around the league it's likely they'll take what they can get.
The Packers have also been mentioned as suitors for San Diego Chargers promising backup running back Michael Turner, but an NFL source said they were not the team who had offered a 2008 first-round pick for him on Friday. The Tennessee Titans are thought to be the most interested, although Green Bay has looked into the possibility of acquiring the powerful runner. As of late last night, Turner was still with the Chargers.
The Packers, meanwhile, might be one of the few places the moody Moss could enjoy success because he would be teamed with quarterback Brett Favre, a player he knows and respects. The two shared the same agent, James (Bus) Cook, for a while, and played against one another twice a year for seven seasons.
Favre has been a big proponent of bringing in Moss, according to Cook, who said earlier this spring that the two have always wanted to play on the same team.
"He (Moss) has always wanted to play with Brett," Cook said in an interview in early March. "Brett thinks he's as good as there is."
To make the deal work, the Packers will require Moss restructuring his contract, which carries over from the Raiders in the case of a trade. Moss is set to earn $9.75 million this year and the Packers aren't going to carry that on their payroll, knowing that they could run into a problem with the receiver down the line.
Agent Tim DiPiero did not return a phone message at his West Virginia office and Packers general manager Ted Thompson was unavailable for comment.
When reached Friday, Cook, who still has ties to Moss despite not being listed as his agent, refused to acknowledge anything was imminent.
"I don't know anything about anything. I'm worried about Calvin Johnson," said Cook, who represents the talented Georgia Tech receiver.
If a deal is in the works, it's likely DiPiero and Packers vice president of finance Andrew Brandt were working to reach an agreement on a restructured contract. DiPiero wouldn't comment on negotiations in an interview with Twin Cities television station KSTP Friday, but said that Moss was in excellent shape and "ran a 4.26, 4.28, and a 4.31 during one of his workouts last week" in Florida. He said Moss is in the best shape of his life.
Asked about the receiver's relationship with Favre and the possibility of playing in Green Bay, DiPiero said, "(He) has great respect for Brett Favre - who wouldn't as a receiver."
Packers might make deal for receiver before draft
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 27, 2007
The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams talking seriously to the Oakland Raiders about acquiring wide receiver Randy Moss, and there is a chance a trade could be completed before the draft starts today or sometime later in the day.
My how times have changed. Randy Moss was all smiles when the Oakland Raiders dealt for him.
According to an NFL source with direct knowledge of the Moss trade maneuvers, the Packers have been engaged in talks with the Raiders and are in the running for the former Pro Bowl receiver's services. While a deal could be in place soon, the source also warned that just as easily the whole thing could fall apart and the Packers would go on with the draft without making a deal for the five-time Pro Bowl receiver.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the New England Patriots are also interested in Moss.
The Packers and Raiders have been talking off and on about a Moss deal for the past two months but haven't ever really gotten close to reaching common ground.
A personnel executive for another NFL team said that the Raiders have been shopping Moss this week in an attempt to get something for him. The executive said he was told the Raiders were tired of Moss' act after two less-than-stellar years by the once-dominating receiver and wanted to dump him. They were finding very few takers, however.
The Packers aren't willing to give up a first-day pick for Moss, but appear willing to go as high as a fourth-round selection. The Raiders have reportedly been asking for more, but with a lack of interest around the league it's likely they'll take what they can get.
The Packers have also been mentioned as suitors for San Diego Chargers promising backup running back Michael Turner, but an NFL source said they were not the team who had offered a 2008 first-round pick for him on Friday. The Tennessee Titans are thought to be the most interested, although Green Bay has looked into the possibility of acquiring the powerful runner. As of late last night, Turner was still with the Chargers.
The Packers, meanwhile, might be one of the few places the moody Moss could enjoy success because he would be teamed with quarterback Brett Favre, a player he knows and respects. The two shared the same agent, James (Bus) Cook, for a while, and played against one another twice a year for seven seasons.
Favre has been a big proponent of bringing in Moss, according to Cook, who said earlier this spring that the two have always wanted to play on the same team.
"He (Moss) has always wanted to play with Brett," Cook said in an interview in early March. "Brett thinks he's as good as there is."
To make the deal work, the Packers will require Moss restructuring his contract, which carries over from the Raiders in the case of a trade. Moss is set to earn $9.75 million this year and the Packers aren't going to carry that on their payroll, knowing that they could run into a problem with the receiver down the line.
Agent Tim DiPiero did not return a phone message at his West Virginia office and Packers general manager Ted Thompson was unavailable for comment.
When reached Friday, Cook, who still has ties to Moss despite not being listed as his agent, refused to acknowledge anything was imminent.
"I don't know anything about anything. I'm worried about Calvin Johnson," said Cook, who represents the talented Georgia Tech receiver.
If a deal is in the works, it's likely DiPiero and Packers vice president of finance Andrew Brandt were working to reach an agreement on a restructured contract. DiPiero wouldn't comment on negotiations in an interview with Twin Cities television station KSTP Friday, but said that Moss was in excellent shape and "ran a 4.26, 4.28, and a 4.31 during one of his workouts last week" in Florida. He said Moss is in the best shape of his life.
Asked about the receiver's relationship with Favre and the possibility of playing in Green Bay, DiPiero said, "(He) has great respect for Brett Favre - who wouldn't as a receiver."
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